We need the national park
Dear Editor: Are we in danger of destroying a beautiful and natural area? Are we guilty of negligence? Does money and self-interest take priority over preserving a natural area for our children and grand children? The decision is ours to make.
I recently read a article in the April 26th Oliver Chronicle about a BC Wildlife Federation meeting in Oliver. According to the article, there has been significant declines in both wildlife and fish stocks in British Columbia. Mountain Caribou, for example, have dropped in numbers from 400 animals to 130 between 1978 and 2014. They are now considered an endangered species.
In a April 27th article in the National Post, Graeme Hamilton wrote that a small herd of 15 caribou near Val d’Or will be rounded up next year and moved for their own protection. The reason? Their 1,000 square kilometer habitat has been “invaded over the past decades by loggers, sportsmen and thrill seekers on ATVs.” In order to preserve them the caribou will be chased on to a frozen lake, netted one-by-one, and then shipped to a zoo.
In Southern B.C., along with other parts of Canada — the Burrowing Owl was a common sight. However, in the 1980s their numbers dropped significantly due to pesticides used to “control’” gophers and grasshoppers. Eventually Burrowing Owls were exterminated here in the south Okanagan.
Thankfully, birds from other parts of Canada and the U.S. were reintroduced, but they need more human help.
I think that natural areas are very good for all people. Have you gone for a walk or hike with your family and felt the wind against your face, and heard the songs of songbirds? I am sure that you met others on your walks, and had a pleasant conversation. If the natural areas are bought up by developers, and the wild animals and plants are eradicated, no one will enjoy the natural areas. Our children will have to go to the zoo to see “wild” animals.
It is essential that a national park be established in the South Okanagan-Similkameen — a park worthy of international recognition, one that includes Mount Kobau and has enough space to truly protect all of the endangered species and ecosystems that makes this place home. It will be economically beneficial to all of our communities, and it will ensure that our beautiful, natural areas are preserved. The decision is ours to make. Ian Hunter Oliver law as being an encumbrance on the land and could diminish the value of said lands. Case law in many Canadian courts can be found with these comments.
It takes a few years for any city to come to the point of issuing an “Expression of Interest,” in my mind, so which one of our current candidates was in a specific office to oversee such a project?
I leave that decision with you to make prior to voting, but will share with you some information I received from Penticton City Hall.
Dan Ashton was a Penticton city councillor from 2002 through 2008, then was elected mayor in fall of 2008 through spring of 2013, when he stepped down to run as a provincial Liberal candidate. The request for expressions of interest, which has caused such division in our community was issued May 13, 2013, while Ashton was on leave of absence as mayor.
You do the math, but in my mind, Dan Ashton, I believe, had a large hand to play in this request for expressions of interest.
It is impossible to dream up such a deal on our Skaha Park in a few months. Please keep this in mind when you vote, we must protect all our parks for our children’s/grandchildren’s future. Nelson Meikle
Penticton